State Board of Education: Seeking feedback Thursday at GRCC community forum

On Thursday, the State Board of Education is holding a community forum at Grand Rapids Community College, 151 Fountain St. NE, to get feedback on current education issues, education reforms, financing proposals, and potential legislation. The forum, one of several being held across the state, is from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, Romm 118/120. MLive File Photo

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The State Board of Education is holding a community forum Thursday at Grand Rapids Community College and hoping for broad participation from residents, educators and school district stakeholders.

The board has been holding a series of forums this winter and spring in order to encourage discussion of current education issues, education reforms, financing proposals, and potential legislation.

"We are getting feedback and sharing our perspective on some significant issues affecting public schools," said John Austin, president of the State Board of Education. "We are always eager to encourage discussion about things being taken up right now."

The school aid budget is currently being debated in Lansing. West Michigan school districts face funding gains and losses. Districts are grateful to lawmakers for reforming the public school retirement system and capping rising pension and retiree health care costs. But they say the loss of best practices funding and other cuts will hurt revenue.

"Why are we not seeing increased investment in K-12?" asked Austin.

Austin also raised concerns about expanding online and specialty schools without greater accountability for delivering a quality education. He said much tighter regulations are needed otherwise it's a recipe for "bad student outcomes."

Last November, the board adopted formal statements, and recommended changes, to bills being considered in the state Legislature.

In its statement on legislation sponsored by state Rep. Lisa Lyons, R-Alto, which encourages new charters and online school options, the board shared significant concerns "about the pace of development of compounding education reform legislation. Over the past three years, several education reform bills have been implemented. It's important to give these options time to work and evaluate the outcomes before implementing additional legislation."

Lawmakers are also discussing a proposal that would result in the expansion of Michigan’s Education Achievement Authority to low-performing schools outside of Detroit.

Multiple bills have been proposed in the Legislature to change the state graduation requirements, most seeking to modify the foreign language and algebra II requirements. There is also a movement to block the state from participating in the Common Core standards - an attempt to create national curriculum standards and assessments for K-12 students.

In 2010, the state board voted unanimously to join 45 other states in adopting the Common Core State Standards. Beginning in 2014-15, there is supposed to be a national test comparing state students’ performances.

Educators say there is no shortage of issues to discuss with the state board members, including Lupe Ramos-Montigny, the former Grand Rapids Public Schools teacher and administrator, elected last year.